Device for locking a media disc to a retaining hub

ABSTRACT

A locking device for a disc retaining hub includes a base and a head that lock together over the hub to lock a disc on the hub until a portion of the locking device is destroyed. The head or the base of the locking device includes locking fingers that allow the head and base to lock together in a one-way snap fit connection. The locking mechanism may also cooperate with the disc retaining hub to lock itself to the hub. The locking mechanism prevents the disc from being removed from the hub until the locking mechanism is destroyed by the user.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser.No. 09/769,033 filed Jan. 24, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,516,945 of Feb.11, 2003; the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention generally relates to media storage containers and,more particularly, to a media storage container that prevents the itemof recorded media from being removed from the container until the userdestroys a portion of the container. Specifically, the present inventionrelates to a media storage container having a hub that receives adisc-shaped item of recorded media. A locking member cooperates with thehub to prevent the disc from being removed from the hub. The user mustdestroy the locking member before removing the disc from the hub.

2. Background Information

Different media formats are sold in the form of discs. Examples are CDsand DVDs. These discs are stored in media storage containers thattypically have a hub on which the disc is received. The hubs includeholding fingers that prevent the disc from falling off of the hub duringnormal use and handling. The storage containers are shrink wrapped whendisplayed in retail environments.

A problem with these storage containers is that shoplifters have devisedways of removing the discs from the containers in the retail environmenteven when the containers are locked with an external lock. The removalof the disc allows the shoplifter to leave the store without activatingalarms that are triggered by an electronic article surveillance (EAS)tag positioned in the storage container. One way of removing the discfrom a container is to strike the front of the container against asurface until the disc is shaken off of the hub. The shoplifter thenslits the shrink wrap, forces an end of the box open, and removes thedisc from the container. The art desires a hub mechanism that willretain the disc on the hub even when the hub is subjected to sharpimpact forces. The art also desires that the hub easily release the discafter the consumer purchases the disc and the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a storage container for a disc-shaped item ofrecorded media wherein the disc is held on a hub within the container. Adevice cooperates with the hub to prevent the disc from being removedfrom the hub. The user of the device destroys the device and discards itwhen first removing the disc from the hub. The disc may then be placedonto and removed from the hub.

The invention provides a locking member that snap fits over the hub anddiscs to prevent the disc from being removed from the hub. The user cutsportions of the locking member to allow it to be removed from the hub.The user may then use the hub in its normal capacity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a storage container having a hub with aportion of the locking member connected to the base of the container.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2—2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second portion of the locking memberthat cooperates with the first portion of the locking member to lock anitem of recorded media in the base of the container.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view showing a disc-shaped item of recorded medialocked to the base of the container.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5—5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing an alternative embodiment ofthe invention wherein the first member of the locking device is snap fitto the base of the container.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing an alternative embodimentwherein the first member of the locking device is integrally formed withthe hub of the container.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment ofthe locking device of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view through a hub showing the first member of thelocking device engaged with the hub.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a storage container having a disc-shapeditem of recorded media locked to the hub of the container.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line 11—11 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 showing an alternative embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 11 showing an alternative embodimentof the invention.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A storage container for a disc-shaped item of recorded media isindicated generally by the numeral 10 in the accompanying drawings.Container 10 includes a hub 12 configured to cooperate with the lockingdevice 14 of the present invention to securely retain an item ofrecorded media in container 10 until the consumer removes locking device14 from container 10. Locking device 14 may not be removed fromcontainer 10 until at least a portion of locking device 14 is destroyed.

Container 10 includes a base 20 and a lid 22 that is movable betweenopen and closed positions. In the closed position, lid 22 and base 20cooperate to form a storage chamber inside of container 10. Hub 12includes a support surface 24 that engages the lower surface of a disc16 that contains recorded media. Support surface 24 may support disc 16above the lower surface of container 10. In the embodiment of theinvention depicted in the drawings, support surface 24 includes aplurality of raised nubs 25 that minimize friction between disc 16 andsupport surface 24. Hub 12 further includes protrusions 26 that arepositioned over the upper surface of disc 16 when disc 16 is held by hub12. Protrusions 26 hold disc 16 on hub 12 in a manner that allows theuser to remove disc 16 from hub 12 and replace disc 16 on hub 12.Protrusions 26 and/or the sidewall 27 of hub 12 are thus somewhatresilient to allow for the repetitious removal and replacement of disc16. In the embodiment of the invention depicted in the drawings,protrusions 26 are oppositely disposed and extend outwardly from asubstantially cylindrical sidewall. In other embodiments of theinvention, protrusions 26 may be disposed in different numbers than thetwo protrusions depicted in the drawings. In other embodiments,protrusions 26 may be disposed at the end of resilient fingers that arecantilevered from support surface 24. The resilient fingers may pushradially outwardly against the inner edge of disc 16.

Hub 12 further defines an opening 30 configured to receive a portion oflocking device 14. Locking device 14 generally includes a base 40 and ahead 42. Head 42 is configured to lock to base 40 in a manner thatprevents head 42 from being removed from base 40 once head 42 is in thelocked position. The locked position of head 42 is depicted in FIGS. 4and 5. One of base 40 and head 42 is configured to pass through aportion of hub 12 before head 42 is locked to base 40. Once locked tobase 40, head 42 prevents the user from removing disc 16 from hub 12 asdepicted in FIG. 5. Before the user may remove disc 16, the user mustdestroy a portion of either base 40 or head 42. For instance, the usermay cut head 42 away from base 40 in order to remove head 42 and accessdisc 16.

Base 40 includes a tray 44 sized to hold an electronic articlesurveillance tag (EAS tag) 46. Tray 44 is positioned underneath thebottom wall 48 of base 20 of container 10. Base 40 and tray 44 arehidden from view by the literature sheet or the outer sheathing 50 ofcontainer 10. EAS tag 46 may be adhesively connected to tray 44 or maybe loosely disposed in tray 44. Tray 44 may also have a plurality ofupstanding walls 52 configured to retain EAS tag 46. In otherembodiments, EAS tag 46 may be carried by head 42.

Base 40 also includes a post 60 configured to extend up through hub 12.Post 60 is configured to lockingly receive head 42. Post 60 includes atleast one locking finger 62 that engages head 42 in a locked position.Post 60 extends up through opening 30 of hub 12 so that head 42 ispositioned over hub 12 when head 42 is in the locked position.

Head 42 includes at least one ledge or locking finger 70 configured tocooperate with locking fingers 62 to lock head 42 to base 40 as depictedin FIG. 5. In this embodiment of the invention, post 60 includes asingle continuous locking finger 62 that extends circumferentially aboutpost 60. Locking fingers 70 are disposed below the upper wall 72 of head42 so that a shoplifter cannot easily access locking fingers 70.

Head 42 has a diameter large enough to cover all portions of hub 12 thatextend through the center hole of disc 16. The lower wall of head 42 mayengage the upper surface of disc 16. Head 42 is configured to allow auser to cut through upper wall 72 with a pair of household scissors or aknife in order to loosen head 42 and to remove it from post 60. Oncehead 42 is removed, the user may remove disc 16. If desired, the usermay cut post 60 to remove the head of post 60. Tray 44 remains looselydisposed below wall 48.

As described above, locking fingers 70 of head 42 are disposed belowupper wall 72 so that the shoplifter cannot easily manipulate lockingfingers 70. Head 42 is formed with a downwardly extending wall 74 thatdefines openings 76. Locking fingers 70 extend inwardly from the lowerportions of wall 74 between openings 76. The downwardly projecting outerwall 78 of head 42 defines three shelves 80 that provide an accessibleregion for the user to attack head 42 with scissors when removing head42 from base 40. Outer wall 78 is generally dome-shaped. The domeprovides strength to head 42 while allowing head 42 to be configured tobe destroyed with scissors.

An alternative version of the invention is depicted in FIG. 6. In thisembodiment, base 40 includes locking fingers 100 that connect base 40 tobase 20. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 6, locking fingers 100extend through openings 102 defined by bottom wall 48 of base 20.Fingers 100 are forced through openings 102 in a one-way snap fitconnection to prevent base 40 from becoming loose after head 42 isremoved.

An alternative embodiment is depicted in FIG. 7 wherein post 60 isintegrally formed with hub 12 such that base 40 is an integral part ofhub 12.

An alternative embodiment of the invention is depicted in FIGS. 8-11. InFIGS. 8-11, the locking mechanism is indicated generally by the numeral214. The elements of the storage container and the disc are labeled withthe same numbers used above. Locking mechanism 214 performs the samefunction as locking mechanism 14 described above.

Locking mechanism 214 includes a base 240 and a head 242 that cooperateto lock disc 16 on hub 12 until the user destroys a portion of lockingmechanism 214 to remove it from container 10. Locking mechanism 214 isdifferent than locking mechanism 14 in that the post 260 carrying thelocking fingers 262 is connected to head 242 instead of base 240.

Base 240 includes a tray 244 configured to hold EAS tag 46 below bottomwall 48 of base 20. EAS tag 46 may be mounted to tray 244 with adhesiveor tray 244 may include walls 252 configured to hold EAS tag 46 on tray244. Base 240 also includes a secondary post 253 that defines a lockingfinger or ledge 255. Ledge 255 is configured to cooperate with lockingfingers 262 to lock head 242 to base 240 when locking mechanism 214 islocked over hub 12. In the embodiment of the invention depicted in thedrawings, secondary post 253 is configured to be snugly received insidehub 12 to position ledge 255 immediately below opening 30. Thisconfiguration allows post 260 to be shorter than if ledge 255 werepositioned at the same level as support surface 24. Ledge 255 ispositioned closely adjacent an opening 257 defined by an upper wall 259of secondary post 253. The outer surface of secondary post 253 may bedesigned to frictionally engage the inner surface of wall 27 of hub 12.The frictional engagement strengthens hub 12 and helps to keep disc 16on hub 12 during shipping. The frictional engagement also prevents base240 from rattling against base 20.

As noted above, post 260 is connected to head 242. Locking fingers 262extend radially outwardly and axially upwardly with respect to post 260when head 242 is connected to base 240. Each locking finger 262 isresilient and may be bent radially inwardly when its outwardly facingangled surface engages a wall such as upper wall 259 of secondary post253. The angled configuration of locking fingers 262 prevent post 260from being pulled out of opening 257 once locking fingers 262 have beenpushed through opening 257 to engage ledge 255.

Post 260 is connected to the dome-shaped outer wall 278 of head 242 by apair of bridges 279. Bridges 279 may be oppositely disposed as depictedin the drawings. Although two bridges 279 are depicted, different numberof bridges 279 may be included to provide more support and more securityto locking mechanism 214. Bridges 279 provide security because eachbridge 279 must be destroyed before head 242 may be removed from base240. Thus, if three or four bridges 279 are used to support post 260,the user must destroy more bridges 279 before removing head 242. Tofacilitate the destruction of bridges 279, each bridge 279 defines anarea of reduced thickness 281 where the user may destroy bridge 279 witha pair of common household scissors.

Outer wall 278 is dome-shaped providing head 242 with sufficientstrength to resist a shoplifter's attacks. Outer wall 278 has an innerdiameter large enough to cover the portion of hub 12 that protrudesthrough the upper surface of disc 16 as depicted in FIG. 11.

An alternative version of base 240 is depicted in FIG. 12 wherein base240 includes locking fingers 300 designed to connect base 240 to bottomwall 48 of base 20. Bottom wall defines openings 302 configured toreceive locking fingers 300 in a one-way snap fit connection.

FIG. 13 depicts an alternative embodiment wherein the upper wall 310 ofhub 12 is used to define a ledge 312 on which locking fingers 262engage. In this embodiment, base 240 is not required and head 242 locksdirectly to hub 12.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because suchterms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadlyconstrued.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is anexample and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown ordescribed.

What is claimed is:
 1. In combination, a disc locking device and adisc-retaining hub; the disc-retaining hub adapted to hold a disc-shapeditem of recorded media on the hub in a manner that allows a consumer toremove the disc from the hub and replace the disc on the hub; thedisc-shaped item of recorded media having a central opening with aportion of the hub disposed in the central opening; the disc-retaininghub having an upper surface; the disc locking device lockingly engagingthe disc-retaining hub to prevent the disc from being removed from thedisc-retaining hub when the disc locking device is locked to thedisc-retaining hub; the disc-retaining hub including an upwardlyextending post that extends from the upper surface of the disc-retaininghub; and the disc locking device lockingly engaging the upwardlyextending post when the disc locking device is in the locked position toprevent a disc from being removed from the disc-retaining hub.
 2. Thecombination of claim 1, wherein the disc locking device defines anopening; the upwardly extending post having a portion that is positionedwithin the opening of the disc locking device when the disc lockingdevice is in the locked position.
 3. The combination of claim 2, whereinthe disc locking device includes at least one locking finger thatlockingly engages the upwardly extending post when the disc lockingdevice is in the locked position.
 4. The combination of claim 3, whereinthe upwardly extending post includes at least one locking finger adaptedto cooperate with the locking finger of the disc locking device when thedisc locking device is in the locked position.
 5. The combination ofclaim 4, wherein the disc locking device includes an upper wall; the atleast one locking finger of the disc locking device being disposed belowthe upper wall.
 6. The combination of claim 5, wherein the disc lockingdevice includes a downwardly extending wall that extends downwardly fromthe upper wall; the at least one locking finger of the disc lockingdevice extending inwardly from the downwardly extending wall.
 7. Thecombination of claim 6, wherein the downwardly extending wall definesopenings.
 8. The combination of claim 1, wherein the upwardly extendingpost is integrally fabricated with the disc-retaining hub.
 9. Thecombination of claim 1, wherein the disc locking device includes a lowersurface; the lower surface of the disc-retaining device adapted toengage the upper surface of a disc-shaped item of recorded media whenthe disc-shaped item of recorded media is held on the disc-retaining huband the disc locking device is in the locked position.
 10. A mediastorage container comprising: a base; a lid hingedly connected to thebase and moveable between open and closed positions; the lid and basecooperating to define a storage compartment when the lid is in theclosed position; a disc-retaining hub connected to the base; thedisc-retaining hub adapted to receive a disc in the form of one of a CDand a DVD on the hub in a storage position; the disc having a centralopening and the hub being adapted to fit within the central opening ofthe disc; the hub including a protrusion adapted to be disposed abovethe disc when the disc is in the storage position; a first element of alocking device connected to the disc-retaining hub; the first element ofthe locking device extending upwardly from the hub above the protrusionof the hub; and a second element of the locking device; the secondelement of the locking device adapted to selectively lock to the firstelement of the locking device to prevent the one of the CD and DVD frombeing removed from the disc-retaining hub.
 11. The media storagecontainer of claim 10, wherein the first and second elements of thelocking device are positioned within the storage compartment when thelid is in the closed position.
 12. The media storage container of claim10, wherein the disc-retaining hub includes a lower support surface; thesecond element of the locking device adapted to trap the disc betweenthe second element of the locking device and the lower support surface.13. The media storage container of claim 10, wherein the base includes abottom wall; the disc-retaining hub adapted to hold the disc above thebottom wall.
 14. The combination of claim 10, wherein the disc retaininghub defines an upper wall; the first locking element including a postextending upwardly from the upper wall of the disc-retaining hub. 15.The combination of claim 14, wherein the upwardly extending post isintegrally fabricated with the disc-retaining hub.
 16. The combinationof claim 14, wherein the second locking member including flexiblelocking fingers that lock to the post when the second locking member isin the locked position.